Debola
Adebanjo is an upcoming sports presenter
whose journey in to sports journalism started off 3 years ago. "The Radio
activist" as she is popularly known on Twitter has an undying passion for
radio from a tender age and rose above all the hurdles to live her dream of
becoming an OAP.

Born
and bred in Lagos, Debola started listening to Rhythm FM at the age of 12 and began
her sojourn in the sports industry while at the Lagos State University where
she studied Microbiology. In her short spell thus far have already worked with
household names like Godwin Enakhena,Olawale Adigun and Mozez Praiz amongst others.

Wolexis.com
sat down with her to talk about everything from her passion for radio, struggle
for her parents approval, forthcoming projects her fetish for socks and so much
more.

Alright
let’s begin with an introduction

I am Debola Adebanjo. I grew up in Lagos,
lived here all my life except for the little fun adventure NYSC put me through.

I will be 25 in October later this year, the
first child of 3 to parents who are civil servants and into businesses as well.

I have an educational background in Sciences,
barely made it through Lagos State University where I studied Microbiology, but
I made it through. Thank God.

How did your journey into broadcasting start?

Well I knew I wanted to do radio when I was
about 12 when I started following and listening radio staunchly. I knew almost
every presenter and radio stations. I remember
listening to ‘Kemistry’ of Rhythm FM in the afternoons, almost every day, it
was so bad I had this book I wrote everything I heard on radio down, the show
times, sweepers, jingles. I was a Rhythm 93.7 faithful then.

At that age I was a science student in
Secondary School and I knew I was going to fill in Medicine in my Jamb form when
the time came,- well ask my dad when you see him.

That happened. Medicine first, Microbiology next,
all in LASU but my mind couldn't go off radio. I couldn’t wait to finish.

Hmmm, so
when did you take the bold step

I couldn't just stop listening/talking about
radio. The times I really loved in school where the times I had football or radio
inclined conversations with my friends. I couldn’t stop telling everyone – I
can’t wait to leave here.

In 300 level, I had my first feel of radio
when I interned at Top Radio for a bit, we were asked to take a 3 months or
thereabout period for Internships in my department but I ended up at a radio
station for 3 weeks thereabout.

Microbiology finally ended, and I didn’t get
up and walk into radio immediately like I envisaged, I waited about 6 months,
but I wrote proposals in that period for shows hoping to use that to make a
grand entrance. Lol. Someone should have told me.

I wrote proposals for two shows; a book club on-air
and a show that was meant to be about rock music.

So you went in quest of an opening?

Yes o I did by ‘googling’ addresses of radio
stations on the mainland and went to drop off the proposal, on this beautiful
day, I remember the day but I don’t want to overdo this. * Laughs *

I went to City FM and was fortunate to meet Mr
Godwin – A producer of the Rock Music show they had running on the station,
shared my Ideas, he quizzed me little and at the end asked me to pair up with
Tony Doe who was the host at that time for a production for the next show. I
was glad. Good start.

And I wasn’t done. Made my way to Top Radio
also in Ikeja later in the evening, that day, albeit, strategically. Hahaha.
With the intention to ask to see Olawale Adigun – who anchors a sports show.

I dropped my proposals – added a quick story,
but didn’t have to do so much because apparently he knew before then from
Twitter (I had this @MrsRobinVanPersie handle) and was always yapping football.

I went on air with him on his show as well
that day – Sports Café (I am a lucky bastard I know), and he said afterwards ‘
I think you can do this’, come back again in 2 days and that was how it
started.

As time went on (about a month later) someone on Twitter informed me that Mozez Praiz of Super Sports was looking for a female presenter for his show Total Football on Smooth FM.

I got in touch, and started working with him at Smooth FM late 2012 and that’s pretty much a wrap of how it moved on since September 8th when I made my move.

Freelanced in several top stations after that, Inspiration FM where I work now, Cool FM/ Nigeria Info etcetera.

I even had a stint outside Lagos(2015), my primary assignment during NYSC was with Ray Power in Osun State. (Lovely place) So yeah, been around. Though I must confess, there was never a point it was easy.

Share your Smooth FM experience with us

Smooth FM was a fantastic platform for me as a rookie in the industry.

I did not have a broadcasting background but the talent and a strong passion I had for broadcasting helped me a great deal.

The only background I remember I had was the days of watching the news on CNN because my Father made me do it. In addition, listening to lots of people on the radio helped a lot as well.

Mozez was a big influence too. He was an awesome teacher. He's someone that won’t scold you on air for making a mistake. I wasn't really under scrutiny. But for the first 6 months I was still nervous, it was gradual. He commends one when something has been done right, He was always firm on punctuality and work ethics and I learned a great deal from that.

I've had a couple of bosses before and after that and I've been able to weigh them all. I learnt one major thing from him and that’s preparation. We normally arrive 3 hours before every show to prepare and that stuck. Years down the line, I can’t see myself going on air without preparing long enough. I believe it helps you feel confident.

Learnt more than just Sports Broadcasting, Thanks to the Smooth FM family, radio production, News editing, Scripting, all of that I got a hang of.

Did your parents approve to all these or it was a
tough battle?

Ye kpa! It was very tough! They never out
rightly asked me to stop pursuing this, especially when I started out as a
freelancer but they suggested severally that it wasn’t worth the effort. Their
frustration was more financial than anything else “you have been going up and
down for a while now, who's paying you?!” ‘’ Let me hook you up at Alausa’’ –
(That never gets old)

Look for a proper job as a graduate, they
said. They probably thought it was whimsical. Although they were frustrated, they were also
supportive. They always provided the Tfare
(Lol! I asked for Tfare die!)

I kept on telling them it will come. I was
very optimistic.

When did
you finally get your breakthrough?

After 2 years thereabout, as God will have it,
Inspiration FM, a station I always wanted to work at were expanding their
sports department, Tolu Shotade called me up and I came in for an audition. And
their worrying has since ceased I believe.

I will say they just really wanted the best
for me. Eventually they realized “this is what she wants and can do”. They saw the efforts I was putting into being
a broadcaster so when it eventually clicked, they were pleased.

Moving on, tell us about your shows on radio

You could always catch me on the Breakfast
Sport Show – Sports Edge on Thursdays
at 7.30 am and the Drive Time Sport show – Final
Score (Wednesday and Thursday's at 5.30pm)

I am also on Time out – a lighthearted Sports Show I co-host with Janine
Anthony. It airs Monday to Thursday at 12:30pm.

Then there's the Weekend Sports Cruise from 4pm-9pm on weekends.

Can you share with us, your top 3 Nigerian
players playing abroad

Ahmed Musa is on his way to playing with the
premier league champions, (eez nor
beans’). He has been successful over the years with CSKA Moscow. Quite a number
of Champions League games under his belt. I don’t really watch his games, but with the
number of starts and appearances he racked up, he must be doing something
right.

Leon Balogun for obvious reasons. *winks*

Kelechi Iheanacho - I want to be like him when I grow up. He is
such an Igbo man, never lets an opportunity pass him by. That he does well at
Manchester City.

Apologies to Odion Ighalo, Isaac Success, Alex
Iwobi for not making the cut.

We are getting personal now, any fetish you would
like to share?

I have a fetish for socks, colored socks and
bikinis, spend time looking them up on the internet.

Can I have a fetish for social media? If I
can, then include that too.

Exclusively for this interview, tell us 3 things
people don't know about you.

I think they don't know that I am a general
media and radio enthusiast. I will host a music show and slot into Toolz’s role
if I you put me there.

People don't also know that I like
Alternative/Rock music. It is an obsession.

*Laughs* what else?!

Well maybe some people think I'm all put
together because of how I talk, but trust me I'm a regular girl always fussing
over something.

Despite the odds, what will you say has kept you
going

Well...Not having to look at my life when I'm
like 50 and have a list of things I wanted to do and did not do.

I'm a gypsy soul; I want to do media and
radio(Its certainly what I want to spend my life doing) but there is a long
list of other stuff I am interested in, travelling is one, anchor a sports show
on a foreign TV channel, own a restaurant/Café, amongst other things.

So I want to do all of those things in my
bucket list and knowing that I don't have much time with each passing day spurs
me on.

Hobbies

I love using the Internet and social media. I
love to blog, catch up on lots of articles, read up on all ‘em football tactics
saved in my mail draft. I also enjoy listening to lots of other people on the
radio and on podcasts. I make mine too. I love dancing – in front of my mirror,
God help me I make it to a Club one of these days.

Lol any disgusting habits?

Do I need to disclose this? I can eat without
brushing my teeth in the morning, LOL. I know. It’s disgusting, I know.

I am also bad at returning Phone Calls,
general bad phone ethics. Chai!

There are so many I can’t pick one. I cringe at the
slightest mistake. Maybe when I said “Viewing Centerses” instead of Viewing Centers
one glorious afternoon!

If you had the chance to pick a foreign or local coach for
the Super Eagles, which would it be?

I have never hidden my support for a Foreign Coach. It
always comes back to the technical know-how. How we set up and where we got it
wrong on the pitch when results don’t go our way.

I think we have settled unconsciously for the ‘we played
well but didn’t win’ over the years. In that light, a good foreign manager can
get us that. Plus haven’t we recycled
all of our local top coaches enough?

Secret football/celebrity crush

Footballer
Crush? Robin Van Persie all day every day.
Where is he by the way?

Celebrity
Crush – I had a girl crush on Dbanj, now I see him as my brother. Like if I met
him now, I’d call him – Brother Dapo.

Your
football dream team looks interesting, tell us why you have picked these
players

My dream team could have a title like my
biased no space for Messi 11 LOL!

Barthez - The head and the France 98 moment -
My first world cup experience

Marcelo - Is a really likeable character

Koscielny - My favorite Arsenal player and a
good defender

Roberto Carlos - Who doesn't like a full back
that can pack a good shot?

Sergio Ramos - In a normal world, he will be the King of Spain.
Brilliant man

Mesut Ozil - Class. Sexy.

Andrea Pirlo - What a god!

Ronaldihno - Isn't he the best?

Robin Van Persie - Great left foot. Nothing
else, better believe me

Cristiano Ronaldo - For obvious reasons. *winks*

Thomas Mueller - He is here for when the
Germans come calling - but he is a brilliant underrated footballer

Future goals

I'm hoping to be on TV this year and also have
a YouTube channel where I talk just Football.
I am looking to have a brand and website that creates content around the
radio industry in Nigeria; the people who do the job, and how they get around
doing it. Especially for the brilliant but not popular radio broadcasters.

I am also working a book for Interns, there
are lots of people looking to get into radio but think it's like a mountain to
climb literally and aren't confident enough to walk into a radio station and
kick off their careers.

Thanks for your time Debola, we wish you all the best in your career.See other photos from the interview